The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta were far from memorable. A garishly over-the-top opening ceremony set the tone and what followed — a lack of organisation, security and ultimately sporting excellence — saw the Games consigned to the back of the world’s memory banks.

The return home of Ronaldo, a then 19-year-old Brazilian footballer who had been a non-playing member of the 1994 World Cup winning squad, went under the radar of most football fans after the South Americans managed only a bronze medal.

Within two years, however, that same player had become one of the most talked about athletes on the planet who went on to fill his trophy cabinet to breaking point.

He collected another World Cup winners’ medal (2002), two Ballon d’Ors (1997 and 2002) and was named FIFA world player of the year three times but the former striker is clear how important that first taste of the world stage was.

“I’m very proud of that bronze and it has a prominent place in my collection,” the 35-year-old told Standard Sport at this week’s Olympic Football draw. “Yes, it wasn’t a gold but any athlete would be proud of an Olympic medal.”

Ronaldo’s approach is indicative of the value given by many countries to the Olympic tournament; an attitude Stuart Pearce and his squad will have to adhere to if they are to prosper come July and August.

Lionel Messi, Xavi, Samuel Eto’o and Carlos Tevez are just some of the stellar names to have stood on football’s Olympic podium in recent years and Ronaldo is quick to champion the tournament’s effect on his own career.

He says: “As a 17-year-old I had been taken to the 1994 World Cup and watched us win that but didn’t play. It was the 1996 Olympics that gave me my first test with the national team. It was a great learning curve.”

For Great Britain coach Pearce, things are not so simple. He is not building a team for the future, this is a one off so does he pick potential or go with the likes of David Beckham and put bums on seats?

Ronaldo, however, insists it is about winning and learning. “It is both,” he says, sitting in a box overlooking a pristine Wembley pitch. “I wouldn’t tell anyone who to pick but what I know is that the young players must go into the tournament with the mentality of winners and, by trying their best to take gold, they will gain some invaluable experience.”

So will Brazil fear a GB team? “As Brazil we shouldn’t be thinking about other teams, only ourselves and be it the World Cup or the Olympics, we expect to be the best.”

Confidence and expectation are Brazil’s travel companions at any tournament and with players such as Milan’s Alexandre Pato, Tottenham’s Sandro and their new star man, Neymar, available for selection, this summer will be no exception. With further tickets on sale soon, British football fans should be in for a treat.

“Neymar is the stand-out, he is an exceptional talent,” says Ronaldo. “It is not for me to offer him advice but my opinion is he should come to Europe now. The talent he has got, he shouldn’t restrict himself to Brazil.”

Ronaldo feels the in-demand Neymar could easily adapt to the English game and despite never treading the Premier League boards himself, he has nothing but good memories of playing football in Britain.

“One of the highlights of my career was in 2003 when I played for Real Madrid at Old Trafford and scored a hat-trick. Late on in the game I was substituted and given an amazing standing ovation.

“It was unique and I have to say would never have happened in Italy, Spain or even Brazil. To get that recognition proved that English fans appreciate talent and love the game so much.”

Ronaldo’s admiration for the British game extends further than the terraces. “In Brazil, the idea that British football is all boom-boom is no longer viable,” he says with his toothy smile.

“In Brazil, we used to think of it as very aerial but the clubs have shown us that they are very technical and don’t rely only on their physicality.”

And he is in no doubt what it will mean to his countrymen to play a tournament in Britain.

“How fantastic for them to play here,” he says. “We all know how much the English, Scots and Welsh love their football. Playing in such football-loving countries makes it so much more enjoyable and, in Britain, the players will certainly experience that.”

Looking out of the window at Wembley, Ronaldo admits to a tinge of envy that he never got to play at the new stadium (“I’d have loved to have scored here!”) and — maybe to the annoyance of fans of the capital’s big clubs — he also has an obvious fondness for London. “I love it here, I really do. I love the culture, I love the restaurants and I love the fun,” he says.

“Actually I had planned to buy a place here and live in London for a couple of years but now as an ambassador for the 2014 World Cup back home, that is not possible. I will do it though. One day I will live here.”